Trump’s Attempt to Deploy National Guard to Portland Ends as Appeal is Dropped

Ongoing legal battles surrounding former President Donald Trump’s effort to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, in 2025 have concluded with the federal government dropping its appeal. The move effectively upholds a lower court decision that blocked the deployment.

Court Ruling Blocks Deployment

Chief Judge Mary Helen Murguia of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to allow the dismissal of the appeal, following a November ruling by Judge Karin Immergut of the U.S. District Court in Portland. Judge Immergut, a Trump appointee, sided with Oregon and the city of Portland in their challenge to the proposed troop deployment.

Justification Deemed Unfounded

Immergut found that Trump’s rationale for the deployment – claiming protests outside the Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility constituted a “rebellion” against the federal government and significantly hindered its operations – lacked a valid basis. She also determined that the attempt to deploy the Guard violated federal law and the U.S. Constitution. AP News reported on this assessment.

Federal Government Reverses Course

Federal lawyers initially appealed Immergut’s decision but reversed course in late January, requesting the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to allow them to drop the case. Lawyers representing Oregon, Portland, and California agreed to this dismissal, provided the appeals court affirmed Immergut’s decision and ensured the federal government’s compliance.

Oregon Attorney General Praises the Decision

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield hailed the outcome as a victory for the state and a demonstration that “no one is above the law.” He emphasized that the federal government lacked a legitimate case and that the communities would not be used as a “testing ground for unchecked federal power.” AP News

Constitutional Law Expert Weighs In

Willamette University professor Norman Williams, a constitutional law expert, echoed Rayfield’s sentiments, characterizing the decision as a predictable win for the state, particularly following the Supreme Court’s December ruling against Trump’s attempt to deploy National Guard troops to Illinois.

Ongoing Legal Cases Related to ICE Facility

The Portland ICE facility remains at the center of two separate lawsuits filed by nearby residents and the Oregon chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). These cases allege excessive force and tear gas deployment by ICE and federal officers against protesters and journalists. A recent ruling temporarily prohibits the use of less-lethal munitions and chemicals against protesters unless agents face an “imminent threat of physical harm,” following instances of excessive force against nonviolent demonstrators, including children and seniors.